Travel

Brits warned Majorca could ‘smell all over’ as top tourist beach closes after sewage leak and bin men announce indefinite strike


BRITS heading to Majorca have been left disappointed after a popular tourist beach was forced to close after a sewage leak.

The beach of Palmira is situated in the popular tourist spot of Peguera.

 The beach Palmira was closed due to the quality of the water

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The beach Palmira was closed due to the quality of the water

According to the city council of Calvia, the problem was caused by an obstruction in the sewer system which then joined the rainwater system and poured into the sea.

Workers from the municipal company in charge of the management of the waste, Calvia 2000, went to the scene to remove the sewage from the water and prevent more from leaking into the ocean.

Local media outlet Ultima Hora said that a lot of beachgoers were affected by the closure of the beach.

They reported that a lot of them were worried about the consequences of the incident and about the length of time the beach would be closed for.

 Services were called to remove the sewage from the water

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Services were called to remove the sewage from the water

The company in charge of the management of the waste said that the incident has been solved and that they will have the results of the tests of the samples soon.

It is believed that the beach might be re-opened later today.

Brits have also been warned they could face a bad “smell all over” the island due to an indefinite bin men strike starting from August 22.

The strike was agreed yesterday afternoon at a vote during a workers’ assembly in the capital Palma.

 Brits could also be affected by a bin men strike

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Brits could also be affected by a bin men strikeCredit: Alamy

Workers’ Commission leader Miguel Pardo insisted refuse collectors did not want to damage tourism.

But he said at the end of the assembly in comments echoed by respected Majorcan paper Diario de Mallorca: “We are prepared to strike although we hope we don’t have to.

“We hope the government and town halls want to adopt a new agreement.

“We wouldn’t like to do any damage to tourism. With a strike like this, Majorca is going to smell all over in three days.”

 The strike will affect Majorca from August 22

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The strike will affect Majorca from August 22Credit: Alamy

Tourists have been warned to expect mountains of rubbish outside their hotels if the walkout goes ahead.

Refuse collectors from four subcontractors working on the island, Melchor Mascaro, FCC, Ferrovial and Urbaser, will be involved.

Industrial action is expected to affect the whole island apart from three municipalities including Palma and Calvia, which Magaluf is part of.

Union leaders have warned any strike is likely to be indefinite, with the walkout continuing until bosses agree to sit down and discuss a collective regional agreement unifying wages and conditions for around 3,000 workers.

Video shows raw sewage being pumped into the sea near Costa del Sol beaches popular with Brits

They are thought to be seeking wage rises, which would see drivers getting around €1,300 (£1,198) a month and the rubbish collectors a minimum of €1,000 (£917) a month.

Mr Pardo sounded a strike warning last month when he said bin men had made it clear to him they planned a walkout but wanted to give bosses a “last chance” to accept negotiations before they call a walkout.

Around 2.3 million Brits holiday on Majorca every year, around a quarter of the total number of tourists the island receives.

Hotel chambermaids on the neighbouring island of Ibiza are set to strike later this month over claims their health is suffering because of “slave labour” conditions.

Travellers took to social media to show how Ibiza Airport had turned into a “disgusting” rubbish dump during a cleaners’ strike there just over two years ago.

A viral trend has also seen young children daring each other to poo in local swimming pools in Spain.

Dubbed “Hacer Caca”, teenagers between 12 and 16 have been sharing images and videos on social media as they pollute the pools and water parks near Valencia.





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